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this cake was absolutely amazing !! after i made my Raw Banana Cream Pie i had my sister taste test it, which sparked an interest in her & she decided to get to work in the kitchen & one-up me. & i hate to admit total defeat, she totally takes the cake-literally, for her yummy Raw Vegan Red Velvet Inspired Cake !

Typical fitness regimen: playing college soccer, newly retired I now
utilize youtube.com and follow workout videos that I can do in my room
no equipment/props necessary, I recommend the Victoria’s Secret Sport
Series ! Or I head to the rec center for light cardio & free weights.

Typical AM ritual: plain oatmeal with water & scoop of chia seeds !
(**bonus ! heat the water first then add the oatmeal, add more water if
necessary—I prefer a soupy consistency because it fills me up ! )

Cooking Method: I try to follow recipes but I often improvise with
whatever ingredients I have on hand… my roommates call my recipe
concoctions “experiments” & say they can always tell when I’m cooking
because they can smell it down the hall on the way back from class !

Example of an “experiment”: I wanted to make something for
Valentine’s day for my roommates that was healthy and delicious ! Thus I
enlisted in Google to provide me with a recipe that fit the bill.

I used the two following recipes and of course put my own little spin onthem !

whenever i go over to my grandmother’s house i can always expect some latin american cuisine ! yesterday i snacked on some Manzano Bananas.

what are Manzano Bananas?

aka. Apple Bananas, aka. Finger Bananas. not to be confused with mini bananas- Aside from being the cutest thing in the world they have a distinctive taste ! They are much SWEETER & have an infusion of appleish- strawberryish taste ! with a slight crunch- so yummy & exotic.

RECIPE: if you are able to find some Manzano Bananas at your local grocery store, I recommend slicing them & eating them over granola or some greek yogurt !

walking into work i usually have my head in the clouds & i’m dreaming about being somewhere else.

but sometimes its good to practice yogic behavior, & remain present.

its always good to:

& i might have just missed this little enjoyment if i hadn’t remained present & in the moment:

a birds nest- a beautiful sign of life amiss the chaos of miami beach & the hussle & bussle of my office.

inspiration on remaining present:

+ “The secret of health for both mind and body is not to mourn for the past, worry about the future, or anticipate troubles, but to live in the present moment wisely and earnestly.” — Buddha

+ “Wherever you are, be there totally. If you find you’re here and now intolerable and it makes you unhappy, you have three options: remove yourself from the situation, change it, or accept it totally. — Eckhart Tolle

+ “The secret is here in the present. If you pay attention to the present, you can improve upon it. And, if you improve on the present, what comes later will also be better. Forget about the future, and live each day according to the teachings, confident that God loves his children. Each day, in itself, brings with it an eternity.” — Paulo Coelho

im lucky to live 3 minutes away from JugoFresh so i go there a lot to get juice when im busy busy & on the go ! but i prefer anything homemade & its just as easy to make at home with a juicer.

try the Ashram Juice-

+ grapefruit + lemon +h20 + turmeric +cayenne +raw honey

this is a really good detox juice that actually tastes ok. slighty bitter, but healthy nonetheless.

+ MY TIP: i know making juices & smoothies at home can be tedious <washing, drying, chopping> & the mess can be monumental ! but i try to simplify the process by sorting my greens ! as ive said before, im in a local organic co-op so i get my produce for the week in a big box on Mondays- i usually go ahead & get the hard work out of the way so its easier la

+ ANOTHER TIP:

& remember to:

did you try the ashram juice? what are some of your fav juice combinations ?

— i always find the beginning of the year a great time to restart & get back on track- thankfully lululemon has some amazing worksheets that you can find here & another in-depth worksheet here ! they are great for organizing short term & long term goals, plans, & dreams ! in my personal yoga practice i would love to accomplish the scorpion pose by the end of the year.

she is one of my all time favorite yogi’s ! i love her health tips & tricks ! for one of her newest downloads click here!

another one of my favorite yogi/blogger’s is Vani.. & i loved to see her post about Machu Picchu, it was perfect timing ! my friend Natalie is coming over tomorrow to plan our trip & book our flights ! so exciting !

–if you’re a Miami Beach local you’ll be happy to hear the incredible Dharma Mittra is coming to town Febuary 3, 2013. Here is a link for all of the information– if you’re not familar with him.. here’s a cool picture to introduce you:

my yoga teacher training feels like its fast approaching ! may 1st to be exact. a lot of people ask me questions about the process & the program. check out the website or watch this video. i am so excited !! 🙂

&&& of course I saved the BEST news for last !! Miami Yoga Magazine- Winter 2013 Issue hit Miami today !! Look for it around town in all the studios, spas, & health food restaurants ! Not only did I contribute to the PR & Marketing.. I wrote an article ! I am thrilled because its my first published writing !! check it out below:

This morning I had the pleasure of sitting down with the lovely Johanna Rodriquez who runs South Beach as one of the most sought out private yoga instructors ! I consider her an inspiring teacher & a close friend- shes beautiful inside & out ! if you live in Miami or are visiting make sure to book a private with her on the beach !!

Me: I think that’s one more than 5 😉 but its cool we’ll let it slide… so where are you from? tell me a little about yourself ??

Jo: I was born in West New York, New Jersey and raised in Sunny South Beach. I have Colombian and Cuban roots – I grew up in a household where being spiritual was normal and encouraged. My mother was very influential in helping me grow into my own style and shaped me into the fashionista I am today while helping me maintain being grounded through my yogic lifestyle.

me: Wow you’re very lucky to have been introduced to this world at such a young age & to have grown up in a supportive household.. tell me whats your favorite green drink combination & what do you add in ?

Jo: I have a lot of snacks during the day (nuts, berries, veggies with hummus). I eat whenever I feel hungry. I noticed that I eat the most after practice. For lunch I usually have another juice with a vegetarian salad or wrap.

Me: What is your typical dinner ?

Jo: I love soup and anything spicy… So I might eat Japanese or Thai. I’m not a picky eater necessarily.. I just don’t eat animals.

Me: It sounds like you eat very clean & healthy which I’m sure helps you in your practice.. What is your favorite yoga pose & why?

Jo: I love urdhva dhanurasana! Especially the drop-back sequence of the pose it opens my heart and back. And it shows me that when I fall back I’m letting go and by picking myself back up that I’m firmly grounded.

Me: What do you typical wear when your practicing yoga ?

Jo: I love practicing in Kino Yoga shorts, Lululemon bras… Laundry days I use bikini tops… I like to use color & prints and love headbands from yogitoes. Oh, I also love one piece suits and can’t wait for my friends organic yoga clothing line “YoGiiZa” to launch next year.

Me: What’s the last trip you took, where did you go ?

I just got back from Mysore, India where I stayed for a month practicing Ashtanga yoga in the source with my guru R. Sharatha Jois. I can’t wait to go next year! India has a beautiful energy that only you can experience there.

Me: I loved all of your pictures from Mysore their gorgeous !! I can’t wait to go there either !! Sounds so amazing .. How did you find yoga and how has it changed you?

Jo: Yoga found me when I was 16… I was reading the local newspaper and saw an add for free yoga at a seniors home. I went the following week and was hooked ever since. Yoga has changed me from the inside out! Everyday I awake I give thanks for yoga, I wouldn’t be who I am now if it wasn’t for the beautiful magic of yoga.

Me: I feel the same way about my path to yoga.. so what’s the best advice you have for someone new or wanting to begin yoga?

Jo: Go with the flow & don’t ever judge your practice.

Me: Do you have any spirtual or yogic quotes that you live by ?

Jo: My favorite is “The time to be happy is now, the place to be happy is here.” I have it tattooed going down my spine. I try to always live my life in the present moment.

Me: What are the best places to practice yoga in Miami Beach ?

Jo: Miami Life Center is my yoga home for my daily personal Mysore practice. I love The Standard Spa Hotel, Miami Beach when I want to practice Jivamukti with my teacher Jaya & take the whole day to relax at the pool or steam after practice. We can’t forget Synergy Yoga on Espanola Way; they offer everything you need from thai massage, kundalini yoga, and even sexy yoga 😉

Me: Miami Life Center is my yoga home too.. I can’t wait to try some of the detoxing hot yoga classes at Synergy. And I thought that your morning class at the Standard was great out on the deck ! Whats your favorite healthy Miami Beach Restaurant?

Jo: Beside yoga, I love fashion & art. When I’m not teaching or working at Avant Gallery. I enjoy attending volunteering, art, fashion, music events. I paint and reconstruct my clothes/jewelry whenever I have time off (not often)

Me: Any ALL NATURAL beauty rituals or secrets that you follow?

Jo: I love coconut anything! I do a coconut hair mask for 24 hours once a week. And right after showering I use pure coconut oil all over my body.

Me: I still use that coconut oil you brought me back from India, thanks so much ! I love it too ! How did you know that teaching was the next step for you?

Jo: I started by teaching kids yoga (it never crossed my mind to work with kids before) after working with kids for a while I wanted to get deeper into my practice and spread the word of yoga to everyone in the community.

Me: How do you connect with your students and what do you like to do differently?

Jo: My classes are meant to connect with the now and your inner self. I use uplifting spiritual tunes, scented candles, incense, and essential oils. I’ve been told I give the best savasana in town 😉 .. I fan and massage my students at the end.

Me: I LOVE your classes their the best !! So when your not teaching private lessons or directing Avant Gallery where can people take your classes?